ACC: Masebo is clean in hearses scam but we are investigating ex – govt officials in MMD

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) says it has made progress in investigating allegations of corruption against a company associated to the former first family regarding a contract which was awarded for the rehabilitation works at Livingstone central prison.

ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono has said at a media briefing in Lusaka today to mark the end of the first quarter that arrests for individuals allegedly involved in the matter will soon be made.

Mr. Moono notes that a lot of money was paid to the company in question but that no rehabilitation works have been done up to now.

Mr. Moono has also stated that the Commission is currently working on obtaining mutual legal assistance with the French Government and other jurisdictions in order to facilitate investigations in those countries in the Alstorm group of companies’ case.

This is in case where former senior government officials in the MMD allegedly received bribes to award several contracts to the French company for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure at Kariba North, Kafue Gorge and Victoria Falls hydro power stations.

And Mr. Moono has also disclosed that the commission is also investigating then allegations of corruption regarding the award of a tender by the Road development agency (RDA) to a company that had no capacity to do road works.

He further disclosed that the ACC has also concluded investigating into allegations of corruption in the procurement of the hearses adding that an arrest has been made and the suspect will appear in court soon.

He also confirmed that former local government minister Silvia Masebo who was implicated in the matter has since been cleared.

Mr. Moono added that the allegation in the procurement of oil which allegedly made the country lose K2 trillion will be investigated once the Report that was done by the commission of inquiry has been availed to the Commission.

Meanwhile Mr. Moono has noted that the ACC in the first quarter of this received a total of 517 reports of suspected cases of corruption out of which 369 lacked elements of corruption and as such advice was given on who the matters needed to be handled.

He adds that the Commission also recorded 13 arrests countrywide while 2 convictions and 1 acquittal were also recorded.